With summer starting up in the southeast, we're now looking at summer travel taking over the highways all around the province. That means a lot more travel and a lot more chances of something going wrong, which is why SGI is sending out their June Traffic Safety Spotlight, centred around summer driving.
Heather Hubic, manager of media relations, talks about what they hope Saskatchewan drivers will prioritize this summer season.
"We're focused on being alert and making sure you're not speeding. So with summer on the horizon, we really want to encourage drivers to review some safe driving tips."
The first item for the spotlight focuses on staying at a reasonable speed, as Hubic reminds people to avoid going too fast this summer.
"When it comes to speeding, we just want to remind people how important it is to slow down, and that will help ensure that they can react appropriately. The faster you're going, the harder it is to make sure that you're in control and reacting appropriately. So we want people to slow down so that they can pay attention and be alert to what's around them and appropriately react on the roadways."
Their second topic for the spotlight is distracted driving, with Hubic giving tips on how to prevent that.
"Driving really requires your full, undivided attention. So we're just asking drivers to keep their focus on the road, and that would include avoiding actions that might take their attention away from driving. So eating, talking, or texting on cell phones, those can really put you and other drivers at risk. Of course, distracted driving is a concern for us, and we just want to remind people to give the road their full attention."
Hubic says that while a summer drive can be a treat in its own right, she reminds people to take in their surroundings at all times so they have a good reaction time.
That's especially important as so many more people are heading to the roads this summer.
"When it comes to the summer, we also want to remind people to watch out for other road users. This time of year, there are a lot of people who are out and about enjoying the warmer weather. That would include pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders."
SGI will be posting driving safety tips throughout the summer on their social media pages.